Lasting-machine.



E. A. STIGGINS. LASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 13, 1902. 1,081,872.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

10 BHEETS-SHEET l.

i g: a 58 WITNESSES- I 7 INVENTUR- 2*? I E. A. STIGGINS. LASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 00T.13, 1902. 1 081 872. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f/6 4 H j WITNESSES.

B. A. STIGGINS. LASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION I'ILED 0011s, 1902.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

338 304 lNVENTEIR sa WITNEEEEEL E. A. STIGGINS. LASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 00T.13, 1902.

Patent-ed Dec. 16, 1913.

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Wmuszssrzsn4 K/ZMMM Ma/Z/ E. A. TlGGINS.

LASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0011s, 1902.

Patented Dec. 18, 1918.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. A. STIGGINS.

LASTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIN FILED 00113, 1902.

Patented 960.16, 1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVENTEIFL LASTING MACHINE. q APPLIGATZGI? FILED OUT. 13, 1902. I

1 @g1 g?g Patenaed; we. 16, 1913.

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INVENTUR- .WITNEER'SEET WITN E55 E5 E. A. STIGGINS.

LASTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 001 .13, 1902.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

10 SHEETSSHEET 8.

E. A. STIGGINS.

LASTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0GT.13, 19oz.

Patented D60. 16, 1913.

10 SHEBTSSHEET 9.

INVENTUR.

\NWTNEEEEE- A /C QLWM Q Ca amm E. A. STIGGINS. LASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 13, 1902.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT orricn.

EDWARD ALLIN srfocms, 0F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR, TO UNITED sizes MACHINERY .ooMPAnY, or PATERSQN, NEW JERSEY, AND :Bos'roN, MASSACHU- SE'ITS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JEBSEY.

LASTING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known thatI', EDWARD A. STIGGINS,

a citizen 9f the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Lasting-Machines, of WhlCll the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to lasting machines. It is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of the type known as the hand method lasting machine, such as is shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 58%,744, dated June 15th,.1897, and No. 597,321, dated January 11th, 1898, but of course the invention is not limited to use in such a machine as many features of it are applicable to other types of lasting machines. 4 1 Certain features of the invention are especially intended to, improve hand method lasting machines which are equipped for lasting welt shoes.

Among the features of my invention a very important one consists in providing an improved last-supporting jack by the use of which shoes can be lasted much better than has heretofore been possible, and with less labor on the part of the workman.

It has become customary to use in many grades of shoes straight counters or heel stiffeners, that is, counters which are pro-' vided with straight flange portions instead of counters which are provided with molded flanges, and to lastthe shoe by bending or breaking down the flange portion upon the inner-sole in the same operation in which the upper material is laid over the inner-sole. The advantage of thus breaking down the flange of each counter during the lasting operation is that the counter is thereby conformed to the particular last on which the shoe is being made, and a better fit as the counter is of stiff material, it is very diflicult and laborious for the workman to I hold the workup to the machine with sumof the shoe is obtained. But inasmuch- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented De 16, 1913, Application filed October 18, 1302.

Serial No. 127,116.

come this difliculty aswell as to secure other advantages, some of which will hereinafter be polnted out,

structed that it will clamp the counter snugly to the body of the last at the counter end thereof. The machine has also been provided with actuating mechanism for raising the jack to present the shoe in operative position against the sole-bottom rest, and for holding theshoe firmly in such position during each operation of theheel lasting devices, and then yieldingly between successive operations of said devices while the shoe is fed along. By this means the shoe is held up to the machine with very little effort on the part of the workman, and better lasting is effected because the shoe is automatically pressed upwardly by the jack in time relation to the operation of the tack driver andto the advance of the reciprocating wiper and tack guide of the machine by which the upper is forced into lasted position, particularly at the heel of the shoe. This arrangement effects a substantial compression of the stock between the last bottom and the wiper and tack guide when the shoe is uplifted by the jack. This compression compacts the shoe stock against the last bottom, forming a definite angular edge or corner at the edge of the shoe bottom and also prepares the stock for the reception of the fastening tack, which at the heel of the shoe is to be clenched against the metallic heel plate of the machine has been pro videdfivithl a last-supporting jack soconthe last, and it leaves the stock, particularly where it is crimped, smoother than it would otherwise be left for the reception of the sole which is to be laid over the lastedupper.

.Another important feature of my invention consists in providing an improved presser for forcing the upper material into the angle of union between the feather edge and lip of the inner-sole of the shoe and for forcing a binder of wire or similar material into binding relation with said upper material to hold the upper in lasted position.

The presser is constructed and arranged to force the upper over the edge of the last in a direction more or less oblique to the length of the adjacent portion of the edge of the last and preferably comprising a rotatable peripheral fingers.

' described rotarv presser I have provided in this embodiment of the invention mechanism for turning it at each operation of the upper manipulating mechanisrm feature of this invention consists in the combination of a presser which can turn and is adapted to overlie the margin of the shoe bottom for the purpose described with means for driving the presser.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a lasting machine with a wiper comprising a circular disk having an unbroken periphery which was free to roll in contact with the upper material being lasted and to force said material into the angle of union between the feather edge and lip of the innersole. The present construction is an improvement on such a wiper in certain respects, among which may be mentioned that the peripheral fingers are better adapted for engaging the successively lasted portions of upper material and forcing themQinto said angle of union, and the provision of actuating mechanism enables the presser to be turned in Wiping as distinguishedfrom rolliriiig contact with the work, thereby more e ectually to force the upper material and the wire into position. v 7

Another important feature of the invention consists in discontinuing the operation of the grippers by rendering the updraw, or gripper raising and lowering mechanism, inoperative when said grippers are not required for use. The heel portion of the shoe is generally lasted by the action of a horizontally reciprocating combined presser and tack-carrier, and the grippers are not utilized because they would pull the upper out of place. The operator vhas therefore been obliged to hold the shoe so that the edge portion of the upper was out of reach of the grippers, or to move the shoe out of the range of action of the grippers at each downward movement of said grippers, and then to return the shoe quickly into position to receive the action of the reciprocating presser. Either of these expedients is impracticable if the shoe is supported in a jack While the heel is being lasted. Moreover the unnecessary operation of the grippers involves needless wear upon the machine. By

spending the movement by which the grin ers are lowered into gripping position, it 1s practicable to hold the shoe continuously in operative position by means of the jack while lasting the" heel portion, and the-workman is relieved of all the labor of present ing the shoe to the lasting devices, except that required for feeding the shoe to present successive ortions thereof to the operation of the mac ine. In this connection may be pointed out one of the advantages of the use of the jack operating mechanism in com- In connection with the adapt it bination with this type of lasting machine in which the reciprocating wiper and tack block erform the lasting operation when the grlppers are out of use. In the prior practiceabove mentioned of dodging the grippers while lasting the heel the operator returned the shoe in time for the edge portion of the upper and counter to meet the advancing wiper and this return was made in some instances, 6. g. while the operator was fresh in the early part of a days work, with enough force to increase the lasting action of the wiper and more or less to give a beating action that would draw the stock obliquely inward and, in theory at least, improve the lasting of the heel seat. By the described action of the jack which raises the shoe during and to meet each advance of the wiper all the advantages claimed for the hand practice are obtained with certainty and in greater degree than was heretofore possible.

' To facilitate the feeding of the shoe, I have provided the bottom rest against which the inner-sole is held-by the jack with a rotatable foot or contact-piece which is capable of rolling over the inner-sole as the shoe is fed along.

Another feature of my invention consistsin improved mechanism for actuating the grlppers. The grippers are carried by relatively movable shanks and are moved, as

set forth in detail in said Letters Patent above mentioned, to stretchthe upper material over the last and la it down upon the inner-sole in position to e fastened thereto. The grippers are also given movements from one side of their central position to the other side thereof, and turned on the axis of their shanks when lasting the toe, and sometimes other parts of the shoe, to fold the upper material on itself or plait it, as described in said Letters Patent. Under certain working conditions it is desirable that the turning movements of the grippers should be yieldingly effected to avoid injury to the upper-leather. It has-been proposed to ef' fect yieldingly the turning movement in one direction, but in lasting McKay shoes it is customary to use the machine-for plaiting first in one direction and then in the other. I have, therefore, provided for yieldingly turning the grippers in both directions and in. the illustrated embodiment of this feature of the invention I have modified and improved the earlier mechanism so as to for performing the double function of yieldingly effecting the turning movement of the grippers in both directions.

These features of my invention and others, including certain combinations of mechanisms and details of construction, will be set forth in detail in the following specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of my invention, I have illustrated a lasting machine of the type described in said Letters Patent No. 584,744 and No. 597,321, and have sufficiently disclosed its general features to enable the machine as a whole to be understood and to make clear the connection of the present improvements with the older parts of the machine. I have also illustrated in detail the new mechanism which I have invented. For a. more complete description of this type of machine reference is to be had to said U. S. Letters Patent.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the upper portion of a lasting machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the machine, illustrating especially the last-supporting jack and its relation to certain cooperating parts of the machine. Fig. 3 is ayie'w partly in section of, the jack and its operatin mechanism. Fig. 3* is an enlarged detail OI the connection between the jack and its post. Fig. 4 is-a sectional view on line 4:4e, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view' showing the ack sustaining spring, and in two positions an equalizing connection between the jack and said spring.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line (S -(i of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the jack-controlling clutch on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, showing the clutch members in operative engage ment. F ig.. 7 a is a view similar to Fig. 7,

showing the clutch members in inoperative position. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the clutch controller in position to render the clutch inoperative, as seen from the broken line 88 of Fig. 7 The alternative position of the controller is shown in dotted lines in F ig. 6. Fig. 9 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of the lower left hand portion of the machine head shown below the dotted line 13-13 of Fig. 1, together with a section of a shoe being lasted. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9, and disclosing the rotary wiperand the means for actuating it. Fig. 10'is a detail on the section line 1411t of Fig. 10. Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the rotatable contact piecewith which the bottom rest is provided. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10, with parts broken away to show the gages and the operating mechanism therefor. Fig. 13 is a front view partly in section of the gage mechanism as seen from line 17l7 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a side view partly in section of the gage mechanism as seen from the section line l8-l8 of'Fig. 13. 1a? is a left hand side elevation of a portion of one of the gages. Fig. 15 is a front elevation of certain connected parts of the machine, including the cain' for providing the updraw movement of the grippers and the mechanism for disconnecting said cain from the driving shaft. Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the disconnecting mechanism. F ig. 17 is a support to the bottom ofthe '10 has its end facein of the same parts in a different position.

Fig. 20 is a front view of the gripper mechanism, parts being broken away to show the arrangement of the spring for yieldinglyenforcing the turning movements of the grippers in both dIIBCtIOIIS. Fig. 21 1s a detail of said mechanism'with the parts in a different position. Fig. 22 is a sectional View on line 2626 of Fig. 20.

The frame of the machine comprises a column A having mounted thereon a head B and a plate B intermediate the column and head and herein referred to as the intermediate plate, said head and plate support-- ing many of the operating parts of the machine. On the head B is a rest for giving last, and a gage position to support the edge or side of the last. The shoe having been prepared for lasting by assembling the inner-sole, upper, lining and counter on the last, and pulling over the upper at the too I and sides, as usual, and securing it to the inner-sole by a tack or tacks at each of these places, is supported bottom upwardly against the rest 12 and laterally against the gage 10 in position to be operated upon.

D indicates the main shaft and 0 indicates a driving pulley thereon. The shaft supports the cams for operating the several mechanisms, including the grippers. 'Said grippers comprise jaws 14, 16, carried by shanks 13, 15, permit independent longitudinal movementfor opening and closing the grippers, butwhich move together for imparting other movements to the grippers, as will be explained. The grippers are mounted inthe front end of a lever 18 which is pivoted at 19 and connected at its rear end through a spring 25 to an extension 32 of a plate E, see Figs. 1 and 15. The plate E carries a cam roll E which is received in a groove of a cam 280, by means of which the lever 18 is rocked to raise and lower the grippers,

giving them what is known inthe art as their updraw movement to stretch the upper. 28 indicates one arm of a rockshaft 26, the other arm 36 of which is acted upon by the cam 40 to turn the shaft. The arm 28 engages with the upper ,end of the shank of the gripper ineinber'16 'to close the grippers when the rockshaft is turned. 50 indicates a rod longitudinally movable in bearings in the head and so connected at its front end to the grippers as to saving them horizontally toward and from the mawhich are so connected as to chine for pulling the upper over the innersole. The rod 50 is provided with a roll 54 to be engaged by the surface 5 1 of the cam other by the -10 for moving the rod toward the rear. It

is moved in the opposite direction by the spring-actuated lever 50 the tension of the spring 53 of which may be adjusted-by the devire 53.

The grippers are moved laterally, from side to side of their central position, by a rockshaft 56 having on its rear end a pinion 59 engaged by a segmental rack on a lever 60 which is actuated to rock the shaft 56 by a connection (not shown) with the cam 40. The front end of the shaft 56 is provided with a segmental block 57.

71 indicates a rockshaft provided at its lower end with a knee-lever 68 and at its upper end with a fork 73 embracing a c'ollar 74 slidable longitudinally of the shaft 56. The shaft 56 is tubular and a shaft 76 is contained therein. The collar 74 is provided with a suitable pin and spiral slot connection with the shaft 76 by which the said shaft is turned in one direction or the adjustment of the collar to the right or the left by the rockshaft 71. The shaft 76 is provided at its front end, see Fig. 20, with a pinion'77 which isin engagement with a sliding plate 63 mounted in the block 57 on the end of the shaft 56 and movable by the pinion 77 across the axis of oscillation of the shaft 56. The plate 63 has an arm 65 to which is pivotally connected at 61 a link 00 joined to a rod 55 having yielding connection with the grippers for moving them laterally from one side of their central position to the other side thereof. The plate 63 is adjusted by means of the shaft 76 and rockshaft 71- to bring the pivotal connection 64 of said plate with the rod 55 either concentric with or eccentric to the axis of oscillation of the shaft 56. When said plate 63 is so adjusted that the connection 64 is concentric with the axis of the shaft 56, no lateral movement is imparted to the grippers, but when said connection is eccentric to the axis of the shaft 56, the grippers are moved laterally once in each direction during each complete operation of the machine by the oscillation of the shaft 56 by the lever 60, such movement being yieldingly effected through the yielding connection of the rod 55 with said gripers. p 20 indicates a combined presser and tackcarrier mounted on the longitudinally movable bar 8 1, see Figs. 1 and 9. The bar is reciprocated by a lever 87, actuated by acam 88. Tacks are delivered to the tackcarrier 20' from a double raceway 250 by a separating and feeding device 245. The raceway is provided with two channels for supplying different kinds of fastenings, 3

herein represented as different sizes of tacks, it being found advantageous to use longer tacks when lasting the shank and sides than are required when lasting the heel. The

. effect as the jack raceway is therefore adapted to be moved to supply the tacks contained in either of its channels to the separating and feeding device 245. a

241 indicates a cam disk operated by a finger-piece B" and connected by plate 240 andlink 240 to the raceway 250, for shifting the raceway to bring the desired size of tacks into posltion to be fed, see Fig. 18.

90 indicates the driver which is moved in one direction by a suitable cam (not shown) on the main shaft 1) and is moved in the other direction to drive the tacks by a tarsion spring 93 having one endfast to the sleeve bracket 8 and the other end provided -with an arm 7 resting on the upper end of the driver.

Reference is to be Patent for a detailed description and illustration of the mechanism hereinabove briefi described. 3

Re erring now to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, 300

had to said Letters 7 indicates a last-supporting jack mounted'on V a post 302. The post is connected to a lever 304 by a universal joint comprising the connecting device 310 and the pivot pins 306 and 308. The lever 30 1 is pivoted at 312 to the column A, and its rear end is cupped out to receive a strut 314. The strut extends obliquely inthe plane in which the lever is-movable, and its upper end bears against a block 316 which rests against a spring 318 in a socket formed in a lug a on the column A. The spring is strong "enough to balance the weight of the post and jack with a shoe in the jack, and to hold the jack yieldingly up with the shoe against the bottom rest at the right elevation for presenting the shoe to the lasting devices. The lower end of the block 316 is cupped out similarly to the end of the lever 304, and both ends of the strut are rounded so that as the lever 304 is moved said figure the strut will make an angle of.

decreaslng efficiency with the direction in which the force of the spring is exerted, and a correspondingly changing angle with the lever, so that a smaller part of the force exerted by the spring is efiective for turnin the lever. The strut arranged as describe constitutes connecting means for causingthe force of the spring to be applied with greatest eifect to the lever when the jack is raised to its highest position and with decreasing is lowered into inoperative position and as the strut becomes more and more oblique. The force of the spring may be varied by the adjusting screw 320. The 'ack has a hollow hemispherical boss 322 ted to fit into the concave head 324 of the jack-post 302 and permit the jack to have universal movement on the 0st. 326 indicates a clamping plate locate inadap concentric with the face: .of the boss.'

side -the boss and having a curved face Through the clampingrplate passes a bolt or'--dependi.ng stem 328, which extends th'rough a large aperture in the central part of the boss and-through the head of the jack-post. The lower end of the stem is secured to a lever 330 which is fulcrumed at 332 to the post and the other end of which isconnected by a link 334 with a lever 336 fulcrumed at. 338 .to the. connecting device 310 which unites the post to the lever 304. The'upper end of the stem 328 is surrounded by a collar 339 and by a spring 337 bearing ona flange of theecollar and onthe plate 326. The spring 337 exerts-force enough on the lever 336 to clamp the boss of the jack frictionally between the plate or washer 326 and the head. 324 of the jack-post and hold the jack against loose movement on the post. A link 340 is connected by ball and socket joints to the lever 336 and to a rack-bar 342. The rack-bar is movable in a guideway formed. between theeolumn A and a bracket E which-is attached to the column and surrounds the jack-post, as shown, to confine and support it. The rack-bar 342 is en gaged by-a pinion 344 on a short shaft 346, which is 'journaled in a sleeve 348. The sleeve is confined in thecolumn A by a screw 349-,see Fig. 6,-but is capable of a slight rotary movement. The shaft 346 has fast on its end opposite the pinion a collar 350 of hardened steel which 'in turn is surrounded by a hub 352 also of hardened steel. Thecollar 350 and hub 352 constitute two members of a Horton clutch. The hub has a lug 352 and also an arm 352". The lug rests upon a spring-pressed plunger which is mounted in an arm 355 of the sleeve 348. The sleeve is turned to press the plunger against thelug of the hub 352 and thereby to raise the arm 352 -as shown in Fig. 7by a cam 360 on the knee-lever 68 which engages a lug 358 on the sleeve 348, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The hub 352 which constitutes one of the clutch members is provided with tapering slots or recesses 366 which receive hardened rollers 368. The rollers are pressed normally toward the i smaller ends of the tapering slots by spring 7 plungers 370, and when in said smaller ends of the slots, the rollers are wedged between the outer wall of the slots and the collar 350, which constitutes the other clutch member, whereby the two clutch members are operatively connected. The sleeve 348 is provided with pins 372 which extend into vof contact with the clutch rollers 368, as

shown in Fig. 7. But when the cam 360 is moved from the position shown in Figs.

6 and 7 to the position-shown in Fig. 7 and 8, thesleeve 348 is free to rotate-a short distance in the direction of the arrow thereon in Fig. 7, and the weight of the arm'355 of the sleeve and the weight of the arm 352 of the clutch member 352, together with the parts supported by said arm, turn the sleeve in the directionof-said arrow. When the sleeve 348 is thus rotated, the pins are forced against the clutch rollers and move said rollers into the wider parts of the'slots 366 where they are out .of wedging contact with .roll- 87 to clamp thejack on its post and then raise the jack positively. The hub is turned in the opposite direction by the spring plunger 354 when the roll 87* is retracted, to raise the lever 363 and to unclamp and release the jack, leaving it sustained only by the spring 318. The arm 352*, when it is depressed while the clutch members are operatively connected, rotates the shaft 346 and raises the rack-bar which, through the lever 336 and the link 334 and lever 330, causes the washer 326 to clamp the boss of the jack securely to the head of the jack-post and hold the jack rigidly to the post. The movement which is imparted to the rack-bar is more than enough to clamp the jack to the-post, and when this clamping has taken place and the link 334 can be pulled down no 1nore, the lever 304 is pulled upward by the rack-bar and the jack is lifted to press the shoe against the bottom rest 12 and also against the reciprocating member 20, which constitutes the tack guide and the reciprocating wiper of the machine and which serves the very important func tion of forming or wipingthe upper into position to be tacked in the process of last ing, particularly at the heel of the shoe, and then flattening the shoe stock, which is apt to be more or less crimped at the curved portions of the heel, down upon the uprai'sed last bottom. The upward position of the shoe-is limited by the shoe bottom rest 12 when the member 20 is retracted and the shoe is fed with relation to this rest between the intermittent stock compressing pressures from the jack. This positive raising of the jack is in addition to the normal upward pressure caused by the spring 318. Thmmachine is so timed that the. jack is clamped rigidly and then raised at the time when the lasting devices are to operate," and the parts are maintained in this position by the movement of the roll 87* over the cam portion of the lever 363 until the tack-driver 90 has been actuatedand the lasted portion of upper secured in place. When the cam roll 87 moves to the right, in Figs. 2 and3, olf from the cam 365, the hub 352 is turned inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 7 by the spring plunger 354, and the positive upward pull on the lever 304 to press the shoe against the bottom'rest is relieved, the pull on the link 334 is.slackened and the jack is then free to be turned on the jack-post for feeding the shoe to bring another portion of upper into position to be acted upon by the lasting devices. When the knee-lever is moved to permit the sleeve 348 to turn as described, for disconnecting the clutch, the arm352 of the hub 352 is supported in a lower position than when the clutch members were connected, and it therefore withdraws the lever 363 from the path of the roll 87, so that said lever 363 is not actuated by the roll, but is allowed to remain. at rest. When said knee-lever is adjusted to render the clutch again operative the pins 372 are moved away from the rollers which are then acted upon by plungers 370 to move them into the narrow parts of the slots 366, and simultaneously with the movement of the pins 372, to permit the clutch member to be connected, the arm 3 55 is elevated to raise the lever 363 into the path of the cam roll 87 so that the jack will be actuated.

The jack comprises a base plate 400 in which are guided sliding carriages 402 and 404 adjustable toward and from each other to lengthen and shorten the jack for different sizes of shoes. The adjustment is efi'ected as herein shown by a right and left threaded screw 406, held against longitudinal movement in the bearing 408 in the base plate and provided with an operating crank 410. A. casting 412, U-shaped in plan View, has its ends pivoted to the heel carriage at 414. and is adjustably supported at its rear by a screw 416 which bears on the carriage as shown. A last-pin support 420 is pivoted to the carriage 404 at 422 and is proyided' with a spring-pressed plunger 424 which-tips the support forwardly to incline the last-pin toward the toe-supporting mechanism. 412 indicates upright ears of the U-shaped casting 412, and to these ears are securely fastenedsprings 436. A heel-band 440 is secured at its ends to the springs 436, and its middle rear portion issupported by a resilient strap 438. The shape of the springs 436 is such that when the last is pressed back against the heel-band the ends of the springs tend to turn inwardly and to press against the shoe at about the endsof the counter. The carriage 402 at the front of the jack supports a vertically movable toe-post 450 which is provided with rack teeth to coeperate with a pinion 452 carried by a shaft 454 mounted in a bearing in the carriage 402. An operating handle is fast to the shaft 454 and is provided with a pawl for engaging a ratchet which is fast on the shaft bearing to secure the handle down and hold the post in elevated position. A casting 464 is pivoted to the upper end of the post 450 and a toe-rest 466 is mounted on one arm of the casting for supporting the toe portion of the last. A resilient toe-band support 470 is secured rigidly to the casting 464 and carries the toe-band 473. The shape of the toe-band support is such that when the toe-bandis' pressed against the toe of the last the front arm of the support yields and the side arms are drawn inwardly to force the end portions of the toe-band into clamping contact with the sides of the toe portion of the shoe, so that the whole of the toe portion of the shoe is firmly embraced by the toe-band. The last-supporting jack is not more fully describedherein and is not claimed in this application inasmuch as it forms the subjectmatter of a divisional application Se. No. 232,953, filed November 16, 1904.

The rotary presser 140 for forcing the upper material obliquely with relation to the edge of the last over into the an le of union between the feather edge and ip of the inner-sole and for forc ng the securin wire into binding relation with the sai upper is located in a plane below the intermediate plate B and below the reciprocating presser and tack-carrier 20,--see Figs. 1, 3, 9 and 10. The .presser has a hub 142 by which it is rotatably mounted in a plate 143 which is in turn secured b rivets 144 ,to the underside of thepivota ly mounted presser carrier 145-. The carrier is cut away at 1.45 to overlapand partially cover the presser, as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 10. The carrier is pivoted on a boss B x on the intermediate plate B, as shownin' Fig. 10*,being 'held on said boss by a cap plate I)" and a screw 5 p v a 147 indicates an arm of the carrier 145, which is provided with gear teeth intermeshing with similar teeth on an arm 148 desired to use the rotary presser. Cotiperating stops B and 147 limit the outward movement of the presser carrier, and a spring pin 149 mounted in the rocker arm 148 engages shallow recesses 150 in the un derfaoe of the intermediate plate B to retain the presser in adjusted positions.

The periphery of the presser is scalloped ma-ea pressing the upper to form fingers 141 for w ich the tacks may into place and between I bedriven, if tacks are employed, to secure in place the portionsv of upper lasted with the aid of therotary presser. The presser bends the upper'into the angle of the innersole and itwill be noted from Figs. 9 and 14; that the resser is arranged and has an edge formation to adapt it. to overlie and crowd the wire down into the angle of the upper so that the wire is held from rising while it is being tightened into binding relation to theupper. The wire is drawn progressively under tension from a wire supply, not here n shown, as the ,shoe is advanced. The machine has provlsion for with it.

For driving the presser a device 153 in the nature of {a pawl is mounted on a lateral extension 152 of the horizontally reciprocating bar 84 that moves the tack-carrier 20. The pawl 153 engages the fingers 141 as the bar 84 comes forward and rotates the presser the distance between two fingers, A spring-actuated plunger 154 holds the pawlagainst the periphery of-the presser, and reverse rotation of the presser is prevented by a locking pawl 155 acted upon by a spring-pressed plunger 156. \Vhen-the resser is in retracted osit-ion it is out of operative relation with its actuator. V

158. indicates a guide for the wire w. The guide isattached to the plate 143 and is moved to and from operative position simul- -when lastin without the jack. When the jack is emp oyed it is not necessary to use a gage for lasting the toe portion of the shoe because the presser 140 acts as a, guide for the shoe. The combined fore-part and heelgage is provided with a sliding block 480 "to which is attached a contact-piece 482 by a 'pivot pin 484 which extends at right angles to the plane of sliding movement of the block,

whereby the contact-piece may adapt itself readily to the position and the shape of the portion. of. the shoe being guided against it.

"A. spring 486 holds the. block. normally in the position shown in Fig. 14, but permits it to be moved into the position shown in full lines in. Fig. 14 This combined forepart and heel-part gage is described and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 718,586, granted to me January 13,1903; It sometimes happens that uppers are cut so small that they will not lap over-upon the heel of the inner-sole far enoughto allow of the lasting tacks being driven the usual distance inside the edge of the heel. It is, therefore, necessary to guide the heel portionsof such shoes with the edges nearer to v the driver than is usual. For the purpose of enabling this to be done, the heel-gage 10 may be made in two parts and adjustably connected by a clamping screw 10*, as shown in Fig. 9, so that the gage can be shortened or lengthened to guide the shoe for position-.-

ing' the tacks any desired or necessary distance from the edgeof the last. The gages are each connected .to a gage-carrier 488 by a pivot pin 490, and each gage shank is provided in the rear of the pivot pin with a lug 492 and a shoulder 494. The lugs 492 contact with the face of the carrier 488 when the gages are in their operative position,

and the shoulders 494 are engaged by springpressed plungers 496 by means-of which the gages are held in their operative positions, but which permit them to be turned downwardly into inoperative positions. Each gage is movable independently of the others, so that the desired one may be employed at any time.

When a shoe is to be lasted without thejaok, the gage 10 is employed to guide the fore-part and also the heel, and as the tacksshould be driven farther from the edge of the shoe at the heel than at the fore-part and shank, in order to locate them in a different line from that in which the'heel nails are subsequently to be driven, the age l0 must be adjustable backwardly an forwardly to guide the shoe properly for receiving the tacks at the fore-part and at the heel. For this purpose the gage-carrier 488 is provided with an undercut groove on its upper face which receives a rib 498 on a guide plate secured to the head B. The carrier is' provided with a stud 500 which-is engaged by a forked arm 502 of a rockshaft 504, journaled in the intermediate plate B. The rockshaft has on its'upper end a lug or finger 506 which is engaged by a forked arm 240 on the hub of the movable plate 240 which is pivoted to the plate B at 507.

The plate 240 is adapted to be adjusted for turning the rockshaft 504 by a cam disk 241,

see Fig. 12, secured tothe rockshaft B", and

provided with an. operating arm B and an eccentric slot 512 which receives a stud 544 on the plate 240. The plate may be adjusted, by turningtlrerockshaft 'B", for advancing or retracting the gage-carrier to position the gage 10 for guiding the forepart or the heel of the shoe being lasted.

The cam 280 for giving the updraw movements to the grippers is loose on the shaft 1), but is rotated therewith by means of a detachable connection with a collarlOl which is pinned to the shaft D, see Figs. 15 and 17. The collar 101 is provided with a bolt hole to receive a sliding bolt or clutch pin 102 carried by the cam. Thebolt is pressed by a spring 103 in the direction to engage the col lar 101 and has an operating pin 104 extending through a slot 105 in the periphery of the cam and adapted to be engaged by a cam disconnecting device. The disconnecting device is a wedge-shaped block 106 adapted to be placed in the path of the operating pin 104 of the bolt and to disengage the bolt from the collar on the driving shaft. The

- disconnecting device also has a shoulder 10? which acts as a stop for the operating pin 104 to bring the cam to rest in the same position each time it is disconnected from'the shaft. I

The disconnecting device 106 is carried by a rockshaft 109, see Figs. 15 and 16, which is supported atone end in a bearing 6 provided in an arm 'of the machine head 13, and at its other end the rockshaft is supported in a bearing 110 formed in anarm b of the head B, see Figs. 15, 18 and 10, which arm also contains the upper bearing for the rockshaft B". The rockshaft 109 is provided with a worm gear 112 which is engaged by a worm formed in a. collar 111 secured to the rockshaft 13*, whereby the shaft 109 is turned by the rockshaft B" to move the disconnecting wedge into and out of the path of the operating pin on the sliding bolt 102. The wedge is moved into position to disconnect thecam 280 and stop the updraw move- .ment of the grippers when the heel is to be lasted and remains in this position until the lasting of the heel is completed. The rockshaft 13* is also provided with an arm b which is connected by a link X with one of two pivoted plates X, X, which rest on the driver guide. Said plates X, X are connected by intermeshing gear teeth, and when closed together they surroundthe driver 90 and stand in,the path of aeollar 90 which is fast on the driver, and so limit the descent of the driver and thereby cause it' to drive the tacks only partially into the work, leaving a portion of the shanks'of the tacks sticking up, as it is desirable to have them do in the shank and fore-part of the shoe, see Figs. 2' and 3, to facilitate their removal when the shoe is ready to be sewed.

The rockshaft B" has operative connection with the raceway, with the gage-carrier,.

with the plates for shortening the stroke of the driver, and with the means for disconnecting the updraw cam from the shaft Said rockshaft may be turned by the handle B into either of two positions. In the first position, shown in Figs. 1 and 1 9, the raceway is shifted to feed short tacks for use at the heel of the shoe, the gages are in their rear-most position, the plates are withdrawn to permit the driver to have its full stroke, and the disconnecting device 106 is in the path of the clutch pin 104 to stop the updraw movement of the grippers. This is the adjustment for lasting the heel of a shoe. In the second position of the rockshaft B", shown in Figs. 12, 15 and 18, the disconnecting device is out of the ath of the clutch pin 104, the gages are in t heir forward position, the raceway is positioned to supply long tacks, and the plates X X in the path of the driver, so that the tacks are driven only partially into the work. This is the adjustment for lasting the shank and the fore-part of the shoe.

It will be understood that while the rockshaft H, which is connected tothe gripper actuating mechanism for renderin it operative" 01 inoperative and to the e ge gage for shifting it forwardly and backwardly, is herein shown as connected to a double raceway for'causing long or short tacks to be supplied according to the adjustment of said shaft, the invention is not limited to a construction in which different kinds of fastenings are supplied from a raceway containing loose tacks or nails.

The turning movement is given yieldingly to the grippers for twistiryig the upper in plaiting it, through a lever see F1 5. 1 and 20, which is pivoted on a stud vertically adjustable in the machine head. The lower end of the lever X is secured to the connecting rod X, which is united by means of the adjustable plate 63 to the head 57 of the rockshaft 56, by which the lever may be operated. The upper end of the lever is provided with a lateral boss 120 which is bored to receive a plunger 125,

one end of which is secured to a connecting- 3 rod X. The plunger is provided with beads 126, 127, on either end, which are fitted in bearings 128, 121, in the end portions of the boss, the bearing 121 bein removable to facilitate the assembling o the parts. The plunger is provided between the heads 126 and 127 with the collars 131, 132, which are freely movable on the shank of the plunger 125, but are held against the heads by a spring 124. The collars are of greater diameter than the bore of the bearings 128, 121, so that they cannot move with the heads through said bearings. Therefore all the movements of the lever X both in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 20 and in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 21, will be yieldingly imparted to the connecting-rod X. The connecting-rod erative or inoperative at the will of the .ot' the rockshatt- 71 and its knee lever 68,

through a guideway in the end of the updrawlever 18, to which the gripper shanks are connected. The slide has on one side a rack formation which engages a pinion X on the grippers shank 13, for turning the grippers in either'direction. By means of these connections the grippers are turned at-each oscillation of the lever X and the turning movement in each direction is yieldingly eflected through the spring 124. The rockshaft 56 which actuates the lever X also imparts the lateral or side-to-side movement to the grippers, so that said lateral movement and turning movements of the grippers take place simultaneously. The mechanism for turning the grippers and moving them laterally is rendered opworkman by adjusting. the slide 63 by means as hereinbefore described. The rockshaft 71 also has operative connection with the jack-raising mechanism, as herein shown, and with the rotary presser. When said rockshatt and its lever 68 occupy the position shownin Figs. 1, 3 and 6, the jack clutch comprising the members 350, 352 and their associated parts will be connected so that the jack will be locked and raised at each operation of the machine, the, rotary presser will be in its rearmost, inoperative position, and the mechanism .as herein shown for giving the plaiting movements to the grippers will be rendered inoperative because the slide 63 has been adjusted ,to position the stud 64 concentric with the axis of oscillation of the rockshaft- 56. This is the position of the parts when the heel is being lasted, and also when the shank and sides are being lasted, although it is to be understood that the shoe may be held in the hands of the operator while the shank and sides are being lasted and the jack not employed at that time, but moved idly by its actuating mechanism. When the rockshaft 71 occupies its alternative position, the jack clutch will be disconnected, the clutch members occupying the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the jack will remain at rest, the rotary wiper will be in its forward, operative position, and the mechanism for giving the plaiting movements to the grippers will be rendered operative by the movement of the slide 63 into the position shown in Fig. 20. This is the position of the parts when the toe is being. lasted. With this arrangement the jack is not actuated to lock and lift it while the toe is being lasted, but is held up yieldingly by the spring 318. If desired, however, the jack-raising mechanism may remain permanently clutched to its actuator, in which case the jack would be elevated during the lasting of the toe as well as during the lasting of the other portions of the shoe. It will be understood that the reciprocating tack block 20 advances into position over the upon. The contact-piece may be in the form of a truncated cone and is mounted on a pintle 12 with the larger end toward the machine. The surface of the contactpiece is serrated and the serrations preferably point toward the machine so as to hold the shoe against the thrust of the lasting devices, particularly of the reciprocating 5 presser and tack-carrier 20, as it comes forward to break down the counter flange at the heel. The rotatable contact-piece permits the shoe to be fed with greater case than would be possible if the bottom rest were provided with a non-movable contactpiece, particularly when the shoe is automatically held against the bottom rest by the jack during the feeding movement, as it is when lasting the heel and the toe. The tapering shape of the contact-piece causes the shoe to be turned as it is fed in contact with the rest.

It is sometimes desirable to vary the tension of the updraw spring 25 to cause it to stretch the upper with greater or less force justment, and therefore a wedge 22 is interposed between a fixed collar 23 on the rod 32 and a. movable collar 28 against which the spring acts. The wedge is secured to a sliding rod 24 which has an operating handle 28 by which the operator may at will adjust the wedge between said two collars on the rod 32 to increase or decrease the tension of the updraw spring. It may be desirable when lasting the toe portion of a shoe held in the jack to decrease the tension of the updraw spring, because the toe of the upper has already been wiped over the toe of the last and then clamped against the last by the toe-band, so that it cannot be stretched any further, and therefore it is desirable that only suflicient pull shall be exerted on the marginal portion of this part of the upper to plait it and lay it down upon the inner-sole.

In lasting shoes with this machine it is usual to last the shank and sides first, while the shoe is held in the hands of the operator,

then to put the shoe into the jack and last the heel, and finally the toe. The machine is adjusted first with the shank-gage in operative position and the other gages turned down. The rockshaft E is turned to move the gage-carrier forward, to cause long tacks to be fed, to put the plates X, X, in position to shorten the stroke of the driver so that the tacks will be left projecting, and to move the disconnecting device 106 out of operative position so that the grippers may be actuated normally to pull the upper. The rockshaft 71 is positioned so that the rotary presser and the mechanism for giving the plaiting movements to the grippers will remain inactive, and the clutohof the jack actuating'mechanism is closed The shoe, assembled on the last and havingbeen pulled-over, is presented by the operator bot-tom upward with the inner-s0le against the bottom rest 12 and the edge of the shank against the shanlcgage. When the machine is started, by a suitable actuating mechanism not herein shown but including a belt for the driving pulley O, the cam 280 acts upon the lever 18 and depresses the grippers while the cam 54, acting on the roll 54*, draws the grippers toward the head of the machine. gripper-closing arm 28 to causethe grippers to grasp the upper. The cam 280 next raises the grippers to stretch the upper, this movement being effected through the spring 25 hearing down upon the lever 18. Thereafter the cam 54 permits the spring 53, acting through the o'verdraw rod 50, to move the grippers horizontally away from the edge of the last while the cam 280 again lowers the grippers, said two horizontal and downward movements of the grippers combining to cause them to lay the stretched portion of upper down upon the inner-sole while keeping it pulled taut. The cam 88 next causes the sliding presser and tack-carrier 20 to be moved forward to wipe and press the stretched portion of upper firmly upon the edge portion-or feather of the inner-sole. When the presser has come into holding engagement with the stretched portion of upper, the cam 40 permits the grippers to be opened and the ram 280 begins to raise them; After the grippers release the upper the presser and tack-carrier continue to advance until the driver passage of the tackcarrier is beneath the driver 90, whereupon the driver is forced down by its torsion spring 93 and drives the securing tack which previously had been supplied to the tack-carrier from the raceway by the tackfeeder 245. The driver is then raised by its cam and the tack-carrier and presser are moved by the cam 88 back into their retracted position out of the paths followed by the grippers in their next descent. The workman next feeds the shoe forward into position for the grippers to grasp another portion of upper and thus the lasting operation is carried out by repeated operations of the machine. The tack is left projecting as shown in Fig.2, because the plates- The cam 40 then actuates the X, X", prevent the driver descendin its full stroke. When the shank and sides ave been lasted the shoe is placed in'the jack with the toe supported on the toe-rest and the edge of the toe-band, and the heel on the springsustained last-pin. The toe-post is then raised by the lever 458 and the toe-band forces the last backwardly firmly into the heel-band, causing the last-pin to tip backwardly, while said toe-band wipes the upper along the last toward and then over the toe end of the last, and finally comes into binding contact with the upper around the toe end of the last. The last then is held firmly between the toe-band and heel-band.

For lasting the heel of the shoe, the rockshaft B is turned to put the disconnecting device 106 in position for operating the clutch pin 102 to disconnect the cam 280 from the driving shaft and discontinue the vertical or updraw movements of the grippers, so that said grippers remain up out of the way whiletheheel is being lasted. Thismovement of the rockshaft B also shifts the raceway for causin it to supply short tacks, shifts the plates X, to permit the driver to drive the tacks fully into the work, and shifts the gage-carrier to present the heel-gage, which will be turned up instead of the shank-gage, in position to guide the shoe so that the tacks will be. driven well back from the edge of the last. These adjustments having been. made the jack is swung over to position the heel-band against the heel-gage and the inner-sole of the shoe up against the bottom rest, 12 Where it is held yieldingly by the spring 318 acting on the lever 304. When the machine is started the sliding presser and tackcarrier 20 is moved forwardl .by the'cam 88, the roll ,87" on the lever 8 engages the cam on the jack-operating lever 363, and said jack first is locked rigidly on its post and then is raised positively and held up while the sliding presser and tack-carrier 20 strikes the upstanding flange of upper and counter and breaks down the counter flange and presses it and the upper firmly into place on the inner-sole. The tackdriver then inserts a tack, driving it firmly into and through the pressed-down upper and the inner-sole where it is clenched against the bottom of the last. The heelband holds the counter snugly against the counter portion'of the last and prevents it from springing away when the flange is broken down. As the sliding tack-carrier and presser is retracted, the roll 87" passes off the cam portion 365 of the jack-operatng lever, and the jack is then unlocked and its positive upward pressure relieved, the

spring 318, however, continuing to uphold the shoe yieldingly against the bottom rest.

The jack may next be moved to feed the shoe for presenting another portion of up- 

